Comments on: Twitter: RT @AP_Top25 Urban …

By: Brendan Loy

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:35:21 +0000

Maybe, but that’s a bit different than what you said originally. In any case, Occam’s Razor suggests Florida probably just made a better offer, or he figured Gainesville would be a nicer place to live than South Bend. Actually, I’ve read that his wife was a big factor — she felt Florida was a much better place to put down roots for their family.

By: David K.

David K. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:59:09 +0000

It could have been his reason, he may have realized that Notre Dame was no longer special, so he might as well go where the money is.

By: Brendan Loy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:32:48 +0000

Alas, your baseless speculation is an epic FAIL. January 9, 2002:

Zook replaces Spurrier as Florida coach ... Zook...said "Yes," to a five-year contract that will pay him about $1 million a season when the deal is completed.

October 26, 2004:

Florida coach Ron Zook was fired Monday after two-plus years and a stack of embarrassments on and off the field ... The school will buy out Zook's contract at $450,000 for each of the remaining years, the Gainesville Sun reported Monday.

Ron Zook was, of course, replaced by... Urban Meyer. Meyer was choosing between two schools that had both just fired their coaches 3 years into their 5-year contracts. Actually, in Florida's case, it was more like 2 1/2 years. Everybody remembers the "early" firing in Willingham's case, because a) Notre Dame is held to a different standard, and b) RAAAAAAAAACISM!!!!!!! But in reality, firing coaches mid-contract is standard operating procedure in big-time sports. Indeed, it's almost definitional: if you simply choose not to renew someone's contract when it's up, you aren't technically "firing" them at all, you're just letting their contract expire. In any event, the mythical notion that Notre Dame violated some sacred trust by firing Willingham after 3 years definitely could not have been Meyer's reason for spurning Notre Dame. Though maybe he was afraid they'd fire him because he's black. Oh wait :)

By: David K.

David K. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:23:54 +0000

My baseless speculation is that ND’s bailing on their 5 year commitment with Ty Willingham actually spooked Urban Meyer and was part of the reason he didn’t choose them.

By: Jazz

Jazz — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:41:41 +0000

Urban Meyer:

1) Midwestern boy
2) Devout Roman Catholic
3) At some point in the past said ND head coach was a dream job
4) Jumped to D1 head coach (Bowling Green) from WR coach at ND

I agree that it is unlikely that he makes the switch, but it seems to me more likely than folks here make it out to be. We evaluate the likelihood of such moves based on public factors, such as what we see on Sports Center, when issues like the 4 listed above may matter a lot more to Meyer personally.

Also, we don’t know the specifics of why Meyer said no to Notre Dame in 2004. I expect that he wouldn’t tell the whole story out of his respect for the institution – but maybe something like the money wasn’t right, though now in ND desperation, it might be?

Keep in mind, as insane as it sounds, that Charlie Weis has a higher salary in 2009 than Urban Meyer.

By: David K.

David K. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:12:15 +0000

I can see Urban Meyer going to Florida under the following scenarios

1) He truly loves the Irish and wants to use his skills and reputation to help turn the program around

2) He enjoys a challange and is getting bored at Florida

3) He really likes money adn ND is willing to shell out

4) He’s dumber than Sarah Palin

By: Brendan Loy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:40:42 +0000

Now, Bob Stoops to ND, I could almost see. Though I’m pretty sure the Irish will end up with Brian Kelly or someone at a similar “level.” (Jim Harbaugh would have a better shot, if Ty Willingham hadn’t come from Stanford. Sort of like how there’s no way Colorado is going to fire Hawkins and hire another Boise State coach…)

By: Brendan Loy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:39:34 +0000

I agree with both of you. Meyer's statement means almost nothing. (See: Saban, Nick.) But the Meyer-to-ND notion has always struck me as completely bizarre. Why on earth would he do it? He could have done it in 2004; he didn't. Now he's turned Florida into USC Southeast, a recruiting mecca and dynasty in the making. He's got a chance to become a legend there. He could win a half-dozen national championships. Why leave??? And for South Bend, Indiana, no less?? Unless Notre Dame is going to offer him ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS, I just can't see it.

By: B. Minich

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:32:11 +0000

True . . . but a college coach at the reigning national champ? Espcially when ND is going to require a lot of work to get to where Florida is? This makes sense to me. Now if it were 5 years from now, and Florida had fallen on hard times, I might buy this. But then, Meyer wouldn’t be on the top of ND’s list then, would he?

By: ceiliazul

ceiliazul — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:11:08 +0000

Trusting a college coach on future job speculation is like trusting Lou Dobbs.